Current-motor and towing apparatus.



T. WARREN.

CURRENT MOTOR AND TOWING APPARATUS.

APPLIOA'TIOK FILED mm 26, 1909.

968,904. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

5 sums-sunk 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS cm, wasmzvcrozv, D c.

T. WARREN.

CURRENT MOTOR AND TOWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE 26, 1909.

968,904. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

' Jkarfzaa warmed.

T. WARREN.

CURRENT MOTOR AND TOWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1909.

' 968,904. I Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T. WARREN.

CURRENT MOTOR AND TOWING APPARATUS.

A APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 26 1909.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

zuurnllplllllrpnniI71 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII jizuezz'a w. wads warvmzI-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIllIII/I I lIIlIllIIIIIII/IIII Q w 17 i THOMASWARREN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CURRENT-MOTOR AND TOWING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Application filed June 26, 1909. Serial No. 504,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WARREN, a citizen of the United States, andresident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Current- Motors and Towing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification containing a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming aparthereof.

My invention relates to an apparatus for utilizing the force of watercurrents to provide power for directing and towing vessels up and downstream, for generating electric or other power for use afloat andashore, and for other purposes, the object of my invention being toprovide a new and improved apparatus, to be positioned in a stream andto be actuated by the current of a stream, whereby vessels moving in thedirection of the current are made to utilize the practice of carryinggreater tonnage downstream to supply power for directing and towing lessheavily laden vessels up stream, without other motive power than thatderived from the force of the current, utilized and made effective by myapparatus.

To persons familiar with shipping in navigable streams, it will bereadily understood that my apparatus will operate to direct vesselsattached to the endless cable moving in a direction with the currentwithout independent directing means on the ves sel, and vessels of lesstonnage and draft attached to the same endless cable moving in theopposite direction will be towed up stream thereby, the excess tonnageof vessels attached to the cable moving in the direction of the currentdetermining the towing power of the same cable moving in the oppositedirection, the movement of the cable about the terminal pulleys beingdown stream on the one side and up stream on the other, my apparatusutilizing the practice of excess tonnage of vessels bound down stream.

A further object of my invention is, to construct an apparatus to bepositioned in a. stream to utilize the force of water currents forgenerating electric or other power which may be utilized in connectionwith laden vessels bound down stream attached to the apparatus to directand tow equally or more heavily laden vessels up stream, or

the power may be used to actuate terminal pulleys or drums by and aboutwhich an endless cable is actuated, to tow and directvessels up streamwith or without vessels being attached to said cable moving in thedirection of the current.

A further object of my invention is, to construct an apparatus to bepositioned in a stream to utilize the force of water currents forgenerating electric o other power, with which to supply and operatevessels connecting therewith by trolley or otherwise, and for any otheruses, afloat or on shore, to form a means for directing and movingvessels up stream as well as down, and to generate power light and" heatby the utilization of the force of the current of a stream alone, withresultant conservation of fuel.

. For the above purposes my invention con sists in certain novelfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts which will behereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of two power units of my improvedapparatus positioned and anchored in a stream; Fig. 2 is a section takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; F ig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form ofmy apparatus; Fig. & is a detailed side elevation of one of the sprocketwheels and sprocket chains; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form ofmy invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modified form of myinvention; Fig. 7 is a plan of a further modification of my invention;Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the endless chains, paddles andsprocketed wheels or drums shown in Fig. 7 taken on the line 8-8 of Fig.7; Fig. 9 is a sectional plan taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and havingthe floatflume shown in position relative to the paddles; Fig. 10 is anend view of one of the power units showing a modified form of theelectric conductors; Fig. 11 is a plan of the end portions of a singlefloat-Hume, showing modified form of endless belt and paddles; Fig. 12is an elevation of the belt, paddles and one of the sprocketed drumsshown in Fig. 11, showing a number of paddles in section illustratingthe air chambers within the paddles; Fig. 13 is a vertical sectionalelevation through the drum, belt and support for the upper section ofbelt; and Fig. 14; is a plan of a portion of the belt shown in Figs. 11,12 and 13.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings: in Fig. 1 isillustrated shapes of the float-flumes, a flaring mouth being producedat each end thereof. Each of the said floats has the inner side of eachend cut away at an angle, the object being to induce the largest inflowof water .into the flume and its prompt exit therefrom after passing thewheel, or water motor, not shown, suspended therein. Being made ofreinforced concrete, or other fireproof material, with water-tightcompartments 1 and 2, these float-flumes are practically indestructibleand unsinkable. Each of said float-flumes may be so shaped as to form adepending flange or member 3, to confine the water in the flume, tolessen its escape under either float and to prevent lateral pressure ofthe stream against the water in the flume. Another form of thefloat-flume, not shown, may be constructed with sides and bottomconverging toward a center, forming a funnel shaped conduit, thisformation terminating, at a desired point, for fall of the water onto aturbine or other water motor properly placed to be operated thereby.

Mounted on each float-flume are standards 4, provided with suitablebearings to receive a shaft 5, of the water wheel 6. Carried over saidfloat-flume and the superimposed platform or deck and supported in asuit able mechanical manner is a roof 7, designed to protect themachinery, et-c., carried by the platform. The water passing through theflume operates the water wheel 6, consequently the shaft 5, on whichsaid water wheel is mounted, operates a dynamo, such as 8, and an aircompressor, such as 8 either or both of them; and electricity, generatedby the dynamo 8, may be distributed over the wire 9 to any point for anypurpose, such as furnishing electric power, or light, to be used afloator on shore.

In Fig. 1 I have shown, anchored in the current, to be operated inconjunction with the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, what I term adouble float-flume provided with two flumes with two water wheels 10 and11. These two water wheels 10 and 11 are mounted on a common shaft 12and operate two dynamos l3 and 14, and the current generated by saiddynamos is carried over wires direct to motors, etc., not shown, orstored in storage batteries, such as 15 and 16. I also show in Fig. 1what I term a single float-flume. This is shown as anchored and suitablyheld at any desired distance below the first above described power unit,to illustrate that there may be any desirable number of flumes, fixedlyplaced parallel to each other, in a power unit, each flume having awheel, or water motor, not shown, operated therein and suitablyconnected. The water having first acted on the two water wheels 10 and11, would then pass on and operate Water wheel 6, as shown in Fig. 1. Inthis connection, I may state that it is preferable to have the samenumber of float-flumes in each unit of each series to avoid diverting orretarding the current. Each series may consist of any desired number ofpower units, anchored in the current at suitable intervals up and downstream, and encircled by an endless cable 17 mounted upon idlers 18 andadapted to be driven by drum or drums 19, located on the first, or onboth the first and last unit of each group, mounted on a motor shaft 20.This motor shaft is operated by means of electricity stored in storagebatteries 15 and 16, or the motor may be connected directly with thedynamo, or the drum may be operated by compressed air engine. Attachedto said cable are barges or boats 21 and 22, 21 illustrated as goingdown stream and 22 illustrated as going up stream. The momentum of thebarge or boat 21 going down stream may assist in pulling the boat orbarge 22 up stream. As barges or boats going down stream can carry muchheavier cargoes than can be carried on like barges or boats movingagainst the current, the greater weight of barge or boat 21, going downstream, attached to the endless cable moving in the direction of thecurrent may, of itself, suffice to drag barge or boat 22, carrying alighter cargo, attached to the same endless cable moving up stream.

In Fig. 2, 1 and 2 designate two buoyant hollow floats of reinforcedconcrete, or other suitable construction, with compartments rendered airand water-tight when open ings provided in the top of each are suitablyclosed. Said floats are placed parallel and spaced apart to form flumes,to accommodate the operation of water wheels or motors between them andsaid floats are properly secured together and form with the superimposedplatform or deck and cover over same practically one monolithicstructure when completed, which I designate a float-flume.

In Figs. 3 and 4: I have shown a modified form of my apparatus, whereinI show two terminal units of a single float-flume to each unit such as 1and 2, between which terminal units may be anchored, at suitableintervals in the current, any desired number of similar units properlyconnected with water wheels, mounted respectively on shafts on eachpower station or unit. The shafts may carry sprocket wheels 27 and 28;and adapted to be engaged with said sprocket wheels 27 and 28 is anendless sprocket chain 29, mounted on drums or sprocket wheels 30. Inthis illustration the force of the water is utilized to drive theendless sprocket chain 29. Carried by said endless sprocket chain 2-9are depending arms 31, and to each arm is pivoted a paddle 32. Saidpaddle 32 is hinged and limited in movement in one direction by means ofa stop 83. As these paddles 32 go up st'reamthey are not effective tothe action'of the water,'but as they turnon the'drum or sprocket wheeland start to go down stream, theydo become efiective to the action ofthe water. An endless cable, adapted to be driven by drum 30, may besubstituted for the endless sprocket chain 291 The drums in thisconstruction would be placed within the limits of the fioat-fiumes.Inconjunction with the water wheel 23, I have also illustrated to beused therewith a dynamo 34, and an air compressor 35 in conjunction withthe water wheel 24. Power from these may be used to actuate sprocketwheels or drums 30, and for other uses. Barges and boats may be towed upstream or down stream by attaching to the endless cable 29 on itsrespective courses.

In Fig. 5 I have shown four units of power generating stations, whichmay be located any suitable distance apart, up and down stream, andproperly anchored, each unit consisting of a float-flume with two waterwheels and tour dynamos thereon, the current generated by all thestations and all the dynamos being conducted to a trolley line 36, andthe current from said trolley line may be used to propel trolley boatsor barges, such as 37, up stream or down, or it may. be used forcharging the storage battery of a float, such as 38, or distributed andutilized for any other purpose. Trolley line 36 may be suspendeddirectly over the floats if desired. This trolley wire may be carriedacross the open water spaces between each battery of units at suchaltitude to allow boats to pass to and fro underneath the wire, or maybe suitably insulated and extended along or near the bottom of thestream between each battery. I have also shown in connection with thisform of apparatus in said Fig. 5 the endless cable 17, which may be usedfor the purposes heretofore described. It may also be used, inconnection with suitable attachments, not shown, to stir up and agitatethe bottom of the stream, to deepen and maintain the channel.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another grouping of the float-flumes,wherein I show a power battery of five units, each unit having a singlefloat-Hume, and spaced apart up stream and down stream from this batteryis illustrated a terminal unit of other similar batteries, saidbatteries being so spaced apart to allow the passage of boats to and frobetween them. The first and last unit of each battery has mountedthereon a drum, such as 19, and a cable, such as 17, passing around thesaid drum which is actuated by an electric motor, compressed air engine,or other energy.

In Figs. 7S-9 and 10 I have illustrated a grouping of the tloat-flumesand attachments wherein I show a power battery of four units, each unithaving two float-flumcs sccurely anchored in the current, connected bysuitable mechanical means and electrically connected by continuoustrolley wires 30, carried by suitable poles 39,'having laterallyprojecting arms -t0, supporting the teed wires '.l-l connecting withother similar units, all the power units being encircled by an endlesscable 17, to which are attached barges 21 and 22, the power wires 36 andell being continued by suitable means across the open water spaceslett'between the terminal units of this battery and terminal units ofother similar batteries up stream and down stream, said batteries beingspaced apart to allow passage of boats between them across the body ofwater, each power battery being encircled by an endless cable attachedto which barges bound down stream may be utilized to draw, up stream,barges less heavily loaded attached to the same cable on its up streamcourse. The cable may be operated by being suitably passed around thedrums on each terminal unit, said drums being actuated by electricmotors or other means. In this modified form of my invention, instead ofusing the paddle wheels as shown in the lower terminal unit in Fig. l, Iemploy paddles 'I) of reinforced concrete or other suitable material,with a water tight air chamber top l3 and a suitably shaped dependingflange 4%, attached to end less chains 45, adapted to be engaged withsprockets on drums to. These paddles may be hinged and limited inmovement in one direction and are effective to the action of the watercurrent as it passes through the float-flume, actuating the drums 46,and the power so produced may be transmitted to and operate a dynamo,such as 8, and an air compressor, such as 8, either or both of them;electricity generated by the dynamo 8 may be distributed over the wire8) to any point for any desired purpose, or uses, or stored in storagebatteries, etc.

In the construction shown in Figs. 11, 1'2, 13 and 14, the paddles 42are provided with air chambers d3, of somewhat di'lIerent design fromthe paddles shown in Fig. 8, and the depending flange is more abruptlyreduced near the air chamber and carried at a greater angle, relative tothe chamber, than in the paddle shown in Fig. 8. In this construction Iemploy drums to, having sprockets projecting from the face of the drumsand arranged to be engaged by the eyes or perforations IT, in the belt48. To prevent whipping and sagging of the belt I position a suitablesupport l9, between the drums, over which the belt rides.

The paddles may be of any desired shape and size, and-may be attached tothe endless belts or chains in any suitable manner, and any suitableprovision may be made to cause the sprockets on the drums to engage thebelt encircling and actuating said drums' The utilization of the forceof the water may be applied by mechanical means or electrically for thepurpose of navigating boats up and down stream, and the power producedmay be used to generate various kinds of power for various purposes.Each power battery being self-contained and independent as to itsproduction of energy, at the same time being connected by feed wireswith similar batteries above and below, there will be constantproduction and distribution of electricity throughout the system, eventhough one or more of the individual batteries might be temporarilyinoperative.

The anchorage of the power units may be shifted, as desired, to newpositions, the effect being to widen and deepen the channel. Thisdeepening and maintenance of the channel may also be aided by theoperation of sand pumps or other suitable appliances operated by thepower developed by my apparatus.

may use single, double, triple, or larger float-flumes in the powerunits, anchored in the current, with accompanying water wheel or wheelsor water motors and other equipment, to form a power unit, and similarunits may be stationed at suitable distances apart, up and down streamand properly anchored therein, and when I use a number of such powerunits, the energy developed by each unit may be used separately or incombination for generating electricity, for compressing air and forother purposes.

he power units encircled by the endless cable which is actuated by drumson the terminal units of each series form a power battery. The momentumof a barge or barges attached to the endless cable on its down streamcourse will assist in pulling barges which may be attached to the sameendless cable moving in the opposite direction, the movement of theendless cable being down stream on the one side of the power batteries,and up stream on the other side.

It will thus be seen that I have produced, in the float-flames,attachments and equip ment and combinations thereof, anchored serz'atz'min the current and segregated into series or power batteries by anendless encircling cable, the floats carrying feed wires which arecontinued across open water spaces to other power batteries similarlyanchored, an apparatus for utilizing the force of water currents forgenerating electric or other power to be used for navigation or otherpurposes, and the force of the current l acting on the endless cable maybe utilized for towing barges and the like up stream and down stream.

Repetitions of the hereinbefore described 1 power batteries, suitablyanchored in the current throughout the navigable length of I a river orof any desired portion thereof and connected electrically, using theforce of the t current to provide the power for propelling I vessels upstream and down and for production of electric or other power for thisand other uses, forms my system of harnessing the current and utilizingits force for navigating rivers and for other purposes. It t may also beclassed as a conserver of fuel. I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, an initial float, a terminalfloat and floats intermediate the initial and terminal floats, watermotors carried by the floats, generators carried by the floats, meansfor actuating the generators by power derived from the water motors,storage batteries carried by the floats, conductors leading from thegenerators to the storage batteries, trolley wires carried by the floatsand conductors leading from the storage batteries to the trolley wires.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of batteries offloats, each of which I batteries comprises an initial float, a terminalfloat and floats intermediate the initial and terminal floats, drumsmounted upon the initial and terminal floats of each battery,cable-directing means carried by the intermediate floats, an endlesscable embracing the drums and supported by directing means, trolley andfeed wires carried by and connecting the series of batteries, water Imotors carried by the floats,

electric generators carried by y the floats arranged to be l actuated bypower derived from the water motors, storage batteries carried by the tfloats and conductors leading from the generators to the trolley andfeed wires.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of batteries offloats, the initial and the terminal floats of each battery being spacedapart to permit the passage of vessels between the several batteries,floats intermediate the initial and terminal floats of each battery,drums carried by the initial and terminal floats of each battery,cable-directing means carried by the floats, the power from which drumsis imparted to the cable J and means for positioning each float in astream.

4-. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a series of batteries offloats, the initial and the terminal floats of each battery being spacedapart to permit the passage of vessels between them, floats intermediatethe initial and terminal floats of each battery, initial and terminalcable-directing means carried by the floats, the power from which 1 isimparted to the cable, means for positiondrums carried by the l floatsof each battery,

ing each float in the current of a stream, trolley and feed wirescarried by the series of floats, storage batteries carried by eachfloat, electric generators carried by each floatand conductors leadingfrom the generators to the storage batteries and from the storagebatteries to the feed and trolley wires.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of batteries offloats, the initial and terminal floats of each battery being spacedapart to permit the passage of vessels between the several batteries,means for positioning all of the floats within the channel of a stream,a water motor carried by each float, electric generators carried by eachfloat, a storage battery carried by each float and suitably connectedwith the electric generators, cable-directing means carried by eachfloat, an endless cable embracing each battery of floats, wires carriedby the series of batteries of floats and electric conductors leadingfrom the storage batteries to the wires.

6. In an apparatus for generating power by the utilization of the forceof a water current, a series of any desired number of floats ofreinforced concrete or other suitable construction, fiXedly positionedin suc cession and anchored in the current sem'atz'm, there being flumesformed by said floats, water motors suitably installed on the floatflumes to be actuated by the force of a water current, electricgenerating means supported by deck-platforms of the floats and suitablyconnected with said water motors, storage batteries carried by saiddeck-platforms and connected to the electric generating means, electricmotors suitably connected to said storage batteries or generating means,drums operated by said electric motors and an enclless cable passingaround and actuated by said drums.

7. In an apparatus for generating power by utilizing the force of acurrent of water, a series of any desired number of floats constructedof reinforced concrete or other suitable construction, provided with airchambers, depending flanges and flaring openings, means for connectingand holding said floats in the current in succession to each other,water motors suitably installed in the flumes, power generating meanssupported by deck-platforms of the floats and suitably connected to saidwater motors, motors suitably connected to the power generating means,drums operated by said motors, an endless cable passing around saiddrums, and encircling and revolving about any desired number of floats,segregating them into a power battery, the endless cable arranged to towbarges attached thereto.

8. In an apparatus for generating power by utilizing the force of acurrent of water, a series of any desired number of floats, constructedof reinforced concrete, or other suitable construction, provided withair chambers, depending flanges and flaring openings, with means forconnecting and holding said floats in the current in succession to eachother, water motors suitably installed in the flumes, electricgenerating means supported by deck-platforms of the floats and suitablyconnected to said water motors, electric feed wires suspended fromsupports rising from said floats, electric motors suitably connected tothe electric generating means, drums operated by said motors, an endlesscable, passing around and actuated by drums, placed on the first andlast anchored float of that series, encircling and revolving about anydesired number of floats, suitably anchored in the current sem'atz'm,segregating them into a series and forming a seltcontained andautomatically operative power battery, the endless cable arranged to towbarges attached thereto, feed wires, electrically connecting the variouspower batteries, arranged to allow passage of boats from side to side ofthe stream. electrically connecting all the power batteries throughoutthe system and enabling concentration of the aggregate energy of powerbatteries thus electrically connected, and providing means for thedistribution and disposal of said aggregate energy as, and where,desired.

9. In an apparatus for generating power by utilizing the force of acurrent of water, a series of any desired number of floats, constructedof reinforced concrete, or other material, provided with air chambers,depending flanges and flaring openings, means for connecting and holdingsaid floats positioned in parallel relation to each other, to formflumes, and anchored in the current in succession to each other, watermotors suitably installed in the flumes, electric generating meanssupported by decleplat-forms of the floats and suitably connected tosaid water motors, electric feed wires suspended from supports risingfrom said floats electrically connecting the floats with each other,electric motors suitably connected to the electric generating means,drums operated by said motors, an endless cable passing around andactuated by drums placed on the first and on the last float of eachseries, encircling and revolving about any desired number of floatssuitably anchored in the current serz'atim, segregating them into aseries and forming a self-contained and automat-ically operative powerbattery, the electricity produced carried on feed wires whichelectrically connect the power batteries comprising the system, anendless cable arranged to tow vessels attached thereto, the feed wirearranged for the operation of vessels suitably equipped with trolleys orother appliances with which to connect with the electric Wires, or tosupply storage batteries on vessels equipped with independent propellingmachinery; all uniting to form my system of navigating vessels andproducing electric, or other oWer, by utilizing the force of the currentof a stream, With resultant conservation of fuel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inpresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS WVARREN. WVit-nesses:

J. W. ERHARD, F. R. BROOKS.

